GovTech to get new chief in May

Mr Kok Ping Soon (left), who is now with the Ministry of Manpower, will take over from Ms Jacqueline Poh.
Mr Kok Ping Soon (above), who is now with the Ministry of Manpower, will take over from Ms Jacqueline Poh.
Mr Kok Ping Soon (left), who is now with the Ministry of Manpower, will take over from Ms Jacqueline Poh.
Mr Kok Ping Soon, who is now with the Ministry of Manpower, will take over from Ms Jacqueline Poh (above).

The agency behind technology transformation in the public sector will have a new chief executive on May 1.

Mr Kok Ping Soon, 48, who is the deputy secretary of development at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), will replace Ms Jacqueline Poh, 43, announced the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) yesterday.

Ms Poh's next appointment will be announced later.

In his current role, Mr Kok oversees national policies and programmes related to workplace safety and health, human capital development, SGSecure for workplaces, as well as digitalisation initiatives.

Before his appointment at MOM, he was senior director at the National Security Coordination Centre, which is within the National Security Coordination Secretariat in the Prime Minister's Office.

He has also held various positions in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, MOM, Singapore Tourism Board and Economic Development Board.

He will be taking over the reins from Ms Poh, who has been GovTech CEO since 2016.

GovTech, in its statement, credited Ms Poh for setting "the strategic direction for GovTech as the implementing agency of the Smart Nation strategic national projects".

"She was also instrumental in rebuilding the Government's capabilities in information and communications technology and smart systems, data science and artificial intelligence, cyber security, application design and development, and the Internet of Things."

Ms Poh was managing director of the then Infocomm Development Authority from 2013 to 2016 before it was restructured.

She then led GovTech to set up Government Digital Services at Hive, which went on to develop digital products for citizens, including the OneService app, Parking.sg mobile application and the National Trade Platform.

GovTech chairman Ng Chee Khern thanked Ms Poh "for transforming GovTech into an organisation that is bold and prepared to take risks in getting things done".

"Under Jacqueline's leadership, GovTech has been able to deliver innovative and imaginative solutions that have taken Singapore forward in its journey to becoming a technology-enabled society," he said.

He welcomed Mr Kok, "who will build on the strong foundation laid by Jacqueline".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 10, 2018, with the headline GovTech to get new chief in May. Subscribe